Perforated-Core Composite Panel Delamination Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing composite panels are prone to delamination under bending forces, leading to deteriorated mechanical characteristics, and current reinforcement methods are costly and complex, increasing industrial investment and production time.

Innovation Solution

The composite panel features recesses shaped in the core to receive solidified binding material, which acts as a rooting mechanism between the skins and core, enhancing the bond and preventing delamination, while allowing for efficient production using needling or other processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mechanical connection between skin and core is created using complex seam-making machines, then delamination resistance is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelamination resistanceVSAvoidmachine complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The core is made porous by creating recesses that receive binding material, allowing the skin to mechanically interlock with the core through the porous structure rather than through complex external seam-making machines

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The complex mechanical seam-making system is replaced by a simpler system where recesses are formed in the core and binding material is injected to create mechanical connection, substituting complex machinery with a material-based solution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If complex seam-making operations are performed before resin impregnation, then delamination resistance is improved, but manufacturing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelamination resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The formation of recesses and the resin impregnation process are merged into a single manufacturing step, where recesses are formed in the core and immediately filled with binding material during the impregnation process, eliminating separate seam-making operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The recesses are pre-formed in the core before skin attachment, preparing the structure in advance to receive binding material during impregnation, thereby streamlining the overall manufacturing process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If uniform reinforcement is applied across the entire panel, then delamination resistance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelamination resistanceVSAvoidbinding material quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The recess density is varied locally across the panel, with higher density in areas subject to higher stresses and lower density in less critical areas, optimizing binding material usage while maintaining delamination resistance where needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution significantly improves the mechanical properties and resistance to delamination of the panel without increasing production costs, allowing for customizable reinforcement density and pattern to match specific stress areas, thus providing a cost-effective and robust composite panel.

Implementation Method 1

by needling, recesses are formed in the core directly by at least one of its faces

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

a core placed in the space between the sheets and connected to them by a solidified binder material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 3

The skins comprise a fibrous framework impregnated with a resin which gives these skins a certain intrinsic rigidity as well as a bond with the core

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpregnation: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP2274161B1Perforated-core composite panel, device and method for manufacturing such a panel
Publication Date: 2012.07.11 SOC INT POUR LE COMMERCE & LIND
  • EP2274161B1 patent drawingFigure 1~7
  • EP2274161B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a composite panel (1), comprising two fibrous plies (21) and a core (3) placed in the intervening volume between the plies (21) and connected together by a solidified binding material (22), characterized in that openings (6) are made in the core (3), via at least one of its faces (31; 32), so as to exclusively receive solidified binding material (22). The invention also relates to a device and to a method for manufacturing such a composite panel. Use for inexpensively producing particularly strong composite panels, with the possibility of having a very wide range of options as regards the constituents of the core and of the fibrous plies.